Howard Cannon
Encyclopedia
Howard Walter Cannon was an American politician
. He served as a United States Senator
from Nevada
from 1959 until 1983 as a member of the Democratic Party.
state teacher's college and the University of Arizona
law school. He became a lawyer in Arizona, Nevada
and Utah
, being accepted to the bar in all three states. In World War II
he served as a bomber pilot in the United States Army Air Corps
and its subsequent incarnation as the United States Army Air Forces
. Assigned to the European theater, he was shot down over the Netherlands in September 1944 and spent 42 days trying to return to the Allied lines with the assistance of the Dutch underground. Released from active duty in 1946, he joined the Army Air Forces Reserve until 1947 when he transitioned to the Air Force Reserve concurrent with the establishment of the U.S. Air Force as a separate service. Continuing to fly in the Air Force Reserve, he achieved command pilot status and ultimately retired from the Air Force Reserve with the rank of Major General
. His military decorations included the Silver Star
, Legion of Merit
, Distinguished Flying Cross
, the Purple Heart
and the Air Medal
(3 awards). In 1949 Cannon was elected city attorney of Las Vegas, Nevada
and reelected three times.
to succeed Republican incumbent Clarence Clifton Young
, who ran for the U.S. Senate, but lost the Democratic primary to former Congressman Walter Baring, who then won the general election. In 1958, he was elected to the United States Senate, unseating Republican Senator Ernest Malone with 58% of the vote.. Cannon was nearly defeated in his first re-election bid in 1964. Republican
Lieutenant Governor
Paul Laxalt
lost by 48 votes. Only the presence of Lyndon Johnson atop the ticket allowed Cannon to win in one of the closest Senate elections ever. He was re-elected with far less difficulty in 1970 (58%), defeating then Washoe County District Attorney William Raggio
. In 1976, he was opposed by former Congressman David Towell
and won easily (63%). He ran for a fifth term in 1982, but was challenged in the Democratic primary by Congressman James David Santini
. After a bitter campaign, he was renominated a small margin, but was narrowly defeated in the general election by Republican Chic Hecht
in a major upset.
. In the Senate, he was known as a moderate in the Democratic Party. In 1981, he was the recipient of the Tony Jannus Award
for his distinguished contributions to commercial aviation. Cannon retired from politics and died in Las Vegas in 2002 at the age of ninety. Senator Cannon was also in attendance at the final performance of Diana Ross and the Supremes in January, 1970.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as a United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
from 1959 until 1983 as a member of the Democratic Party.
Early life
Cannon was born in Saint George, Utah. He attended the ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
state teacher's college and the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
law school. He became a lawyer in Arizona, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, being accepted to the bar in all three states. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served as a bomber pilot in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
and its subsequent incarnation as the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
. Assigned to the European theater, he was shot down over the Netherlands in September 1944 and spent 42 days trying to return to the Allied lines with the assistance of the Dutch underground. Released from active duty in 1946, he joined the Army Air Forces Reserve until 1947 when he transitioned to the Air Force Reserve concurrent with the establishment of the U.S. Air Force as a separate service. Continuing to fly in the Air Force Reserve, he achieved command pilot status and ultimately retired from the Air Force Reserve with the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. His military decorations included the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
, the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
and the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
(3 awards). In 1949 Cannon was elected city attorney of Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and reelected three times.
Elections
In 1956, Cannon ran for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
to succeed Republican incumbent Clarence Clifton Young
Clarence Clifton Young
Clarence Clifton Young was a United States congressman from Nevada.A Republican, Young was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the state's at-large district in 1952 and reeelected in 1954...
, who ran for the U.S. Senate, but lost the Democratic primary to former Congressman Walter Baring, who then won the general election. In 1958, he was elected to the United States Senate, unseating Republican Senator Ernest Malone with 58% of the vote.. Cannon was nearly defeated in his first re-election bid in 1964. Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
The Nevada Lieutenant Governor is an elected office in the U.S. state of Nevada. The Nevada Lieutenant Governor is based in Carson City, Nevada and elected for 4 year terms. The 33rd and current Lt. Governor for the 2007-2011 term is Brian Krolicki....
Paul Laxalt
Paul Laxalt
Paul Dominique Laxalt of Nevada was a former Republican District Attorney, Lieutenant Governor, Governor and U.S. Senator. In the media, the words "son of a Basque sheepherder" often accompanied his name. He was one of Ronald Reagan's closest friends in politics...
lost by 48 votes. Only the presence of Lyndon Johnson atop the ticket allowed Cannon to win in one of the closest Senate elections ever. He was re-elected with far less difficulty in 1970 (58%), defeating then Washoe County District Attorney William Raggio
William Raggio
William Raggio is an American politician and a former Republican member of the Nevada Senate. He represented Washoe County's 3rd district from 1972 until his retirement in 2011. He is the longest-serving member in the history of the State Senate.-Early life, education, and early career:Raggio was...
. In 1976, he was opposed by former Congressman David Towell
David Towell
David Gilmer Towell served a single term as a United States Representative from Nevada, representing the state's at-large district. He was a Republican. A real estate broker by profession, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972...
and won easily (63%). He ran for a fifth term in 1982, but was challenged in the Democratic primary by Congressman James David Santini
James David Santini
James David Santini was a United States Representative from Nevada.Santini was born in Reno, Nevada attended the University of Nevada, Reno where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He was a lawyer before entering politics. He was elected to the US House in 1974, easily unseating...
. After a bitter campaign, he was renominated a small margin, but was narrowly defeated in the general election by Republican Chic Hecht
Chic Hecht
Mayer Jacob "Chic" Hecht was a Republican United States Senator from Nevada and U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas.-Early life and career:...
in a major upset.
Tenure
In 1964 Cannon voted for the Civil Rights ActCivil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
. In the Senate, he was known as a moderate in the Democratic Party. In 1981, he was the recipient of the Tony Jannus Award
Tony Jannus Award
The Tony Jannus Award recognizes outstanding individual achievement in scheduled commercial aviation by airline executives, inventors and manufacturers, and government leaders. The award is conferred annually by the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society and was first bestowed in 1964 in Tampa,...
for his distinguished contributions to commercial aviation. Cannon retired from politics and died in Las Vegas in 2002 at the age of ninety. Senator Cannon was also in attendance at the final performance of Diana Ross and the Supremes in January, 1970.
Committee assignments
He had an interest in the rules and administration of the Congress, serving as chairman of several committees on that subject, including the rules committee and the inaugural arrangements committee.Honors
- The passenger terminal at Reno-Tahoe International Airport is named after him.
- The Cannon Center for Survey Research is also named after him.